evolution update
A county in Georgia is following a court order to “remove evolution ‘disclaimers’ from science textbooks”:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/24/AR2005052400285.html . I’m glad to hear that, because it indicates that someone, somewhere is being a bit more reasonable about this.
For those looking for more science ammo in this fight, Scientific American has an excellent list of “answers to creationist nonsense”:http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000D4FEC-7D5B-1D07-8E49809EC588EEDF. It answers the most common creationist (or “Intelligent Design”) misconceptions in a clear, decisive fashion. Yay, science!
*UPDATE*: Scientific American seems to have moved the article behind their Wall of Subscription, so here are a couple “alternate”:http://www.angelfire.com/ok5/pearly/htmls/gop-evolution.html “links”:http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/textbookdisclaimers/wackononsense.pdf if you’re still interested in reading the whole thing.
all quiet on the western front
Not dead, just getting back from a visit to our nation’s capital. Will post a few tidbits soon. This gives you time to read “Deb’s post”:http://www.globalspin.com/mt/archives/000543.html below or catch up on your “Fafblog”:http://fafblog.blogspot.com/.
Not All Sperm Created Equal
Obviously we are still living in the dark ages where AIDS is concerned. I mean, the FDA is all about statistics, right? So maybe they should check the current trends on AIDS infection? Here are just a few websites, some newer some older, that belie the FDA’s blatant prejudice: world overview/statistics, infection doubles in black population, women’s mortality from HIV.
Rant Warning!
I mean, this sends me into apoplectic fits. Where the hell did this come from? What is wrong with current screening processes? Are they having a problem with AIDS infection from AI (artificial insemination)? But no, this is not a rational decision, obviously. This is more from fear and homophobia and based on the current climate in this country. It is part of the backlash — and intended to create such headlines as “AIDS virus rate higher in gay men.” Um, no, people. This is a pandemic and this kind of misinformation and bad press is not helping . . . not by a long shot.
social security update
Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo has a “fantastic explanation of the Bush administration’s ‘solution’ to the Social Security ‘crisis’”:http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_05_01.php#005638. In short, both the ‘crisis’ (reduced benefits starting in 2041) and the ‘solution’ (reduced benefits starting in 2012) are the same.
The CBPP has kindly provided the “numbers to back that up”:http://www.cbpp.org/5-10-05socsec.htm, showing that the President’s plans don’t even solve the solvency problem they claim to solve. Instead, they create trillions of dollars in new debt for no reason at all.